Your AI Therapist Will See You Now…

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 5:30pm $15 in Advance | $20 at the Door, Cash Only Complementary Tickets for Students with Student ID Pizza, Soft Drinks Hula Lakeside – 50 Lakeside Ave., Burlington, Vt Register: https://sevendaystickets.com/events/aivermont-ai-mental-health

 

Join us for an illuminating exploration of how AI is reshaping mental healthcare. Our distinguished panel of experts from psychiatry, student wellness, and AI data science will help us unpack the complex landscape of the machine-human connection. As AI advances, it has transformed from mechanical, algorithmic computation to something far more intimate and mysterious. Perhaps this is nowhere more evident than in the emergence of AI therapist chatbots—technologies capable of eliciting profound human emotions that challenge our deepest understanding of connection. People fall in love, lose jobs, and even risk their lives based on algorithmic interactions. But can these statistical machines truly comprehend the intricate terrain of human emotion? Our panelists will navigate this strange new world, examining how intelligent systems simultaneously inspire, manipulate, and challenge our fundamental understanding of empathy. One panelist will demonstrate a chatbot therapist in action, offering a glimpse into the blurred boundaries between technological interaction and human experience. PANEL PARTICIPANTS Dr. Sandra Steingard is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UVM’s Larner College of Medicine, and worked for over 20 years at the Howard Center, most recently as the Chief Medical Officer until 2020. She has worked in a variety of settings in Vermont’s public mental health system and contributed to many scholarly publications on psychiatry, as well as authored the blog, “Mad In America.” Tony Moulton, a leader in youth mental health, AI ethics, and prevention programming in the Champlain Valley School District with 25 years experience leading initiatives in suicide prevention, social-emotional learning, and AI literacy. His focus on ensuring that emerging technologies support student well-being will inform his new position as Senior Director of Programs at King Street Center. Josiah Raiche is the Chief Data and AI Officer of the State of Vermont. He is also the nation’s first AI Director, appointed in 2022.  His work is focused on data, AI, and digital experiences. He frequently coaches other states on AI ethics and public sector tech transformation and advises a number of non-profits supporting public sector AI adoption and AI literacy among Vermonters. Moderator: Marc Natanagara, Ed.D has 38 years of experience as a preK to college teacher and administrator. He developed dozens of programs for children, wrote over $3 million in grants, and facilitated thousands of hours of workshops across the country. Since 2023, he has supported educators using artificial intelligence. His TEDx talk on AI has been viewed over 70,000 times. Marc is a co-founder of aiVermont.